University Center for Regional Economic Innovation

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REI Update for October, 2013

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Announcements

Innovate Michigan! Summit 2013

The Innovate Michigan! Summit Was a Huge Success! Thank You!

On Wednesday September 4th, REI hosted the second annual Innovate Michigan! Summit at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing. We had an excellent turnout with over 150 guests, presenters, moderators, and more! Participants were able to discuss and learn about new and influential techniques, tools, models, policies, and practices for furthering economic development here in Michigan. We hope you all enjoyed the event as much as we did. If you didn't make it, we hope to see you next year!

Thank you to all the presenters and moderators who made the Summit possible!

Thomas Diets Dennis West Jim Baker Robin Boyle Hubert Brandon Dave Bee Cristina Benton Lori Mullins Naheed Huq Steven Mankouche Sara Wycoff Ralf Wilhelms Allan Hooper Kendrick Jones Andrew Morton Steve Weiland Kenneth Corey Avis Vidal Rodney Gasaway Conan Smith Phillip Olla Jim Baker Sahara Horn Carolyn Hatch Kimberly Kleinhans Leslie Youngdahl Matthew Williams Arnold Weinfeld Eric Frederick Mark Wilson Lindsay Wallace Larry Good Jeannine LaPrad Mike Polzin John Hopkins Stephen Hsu Jennifer Bruen Rex LaMore

And a special thank you to our Keynote Speaker, Rev. Barry T. Randolph, who shared some innovation and creativity advice and success stories! "When the mission is right, the odds don't matter!"

Idea Ratings Participants at the Innovate Michigan! Summit were asked to rate a series of recently proposed ideas and we provided the results in real-time. If you have an idea for a solution to an economic development issue visit reicenter.org to submit your idea!

Innovate Michigan! Summit Media Coverage

CBS Detroit

Michigan Business Network interviewed Eric Frederick, from Connect Michigan, on his Co-learning Plan: Digital Literacy and Inclusion: Further Developing Michigan's Twenty-first Century Workforce. The purpose of this collaborative learning plan was to examine the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills or "digital literacy" skills gap and its relationship to workforce and economic development in Michigan.

Michigan Business Network interviewed Carolyn Hatch, MSU Visiting Scholar, on her Co-learning Plan: Skills Gap or Training Gap?: The Role of Manufacturers in Solving the Skills-Gap Problem. This research focuses on the skills gap in the Michigan manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on how producer firms can play a role to address workforce development obstacles by collaborating with institutions and actors in their local supply chains and industrial clusters.

2013 Webinar and Co-Learning Plan Series

Check out REI's Webinar Series and Co-learning Plans, coming soon on our website! Look for announcements on reicenter.org, Twitter, and LinkedIn about their availability.

Student-Led, Faculty-Guided, Technical Assistance Projects

Announcing the Technical Assistance Projects for the Fall 2013 Semester. Congratulations!

Afterhouse Part II

University of Michigan, Steven Mankouche

AFTERHOUSE served as a model and prototype to develop an economically viable kit that can be used to with other abandoned house foundations throughout Detroit and beyond. Passive geothermal greenhouses can dramatically extend growing seasons and expand crop possibilities without the use of additional energy. Part II focuses on building a physical AFTERHOUSE.

Action Plan for Detroit Future City Employment District: Dequindre/Detroit Eastern Market

University of Michigan, June Thomas

This capstone project looks at developing an action plan, working closely with SEMCOG and Detroit Future City plans, to develop and innovate the Dequindre and Detroit Eastern Market areas.

Feasibility of Public Transit in the Bay Region

Saginaw Valley State University, John Kaczynski

This project develops a feasibility study for public transportation programs in the Great Lakes Bay Area, working with mass transit authorities in other cities all over Michigan. Through the mass transit authorities, the student team will also come up with best practices for public transit.

Development of a Creative and Business incubator at Montcalm Community College

Grand Valley State University, Davia Downey

Montcalm and Ionia counties are considering development of a creative and business incubator to service the area. Students working on this project will perform a SWOT analysis while forming their own creative ideas about the definition and usage of creative incubators in conjunction with entrepreneurship in the area.

Social Media and Listserv

Thank you to our REI members who have helped us reach over 750 followers on our Twitter feed, 320 members on our LinkedIn group, and over 800 on this ListServ.